I sang a little while and then flew on.

They had speakers in the hallway at this cap center run and at some point we realized that the sound quality was better out there...plus more dancing room so we said hallway it is. I will never forget the look of bemusement on this security chicks face who was guarding the speaker when ripple began and the heads started losing it. She was looking at us like we were insane. We had fun on this four night run....and yes the security at the cap center was terrible. Jerry town was crazy though(the gravel parking lot on the other side of the little bridge)...that was nuts. Good time. Wide open across the bridge. It will never happen like that again.

From what I recall the crowd was really fired up, as to be expected for an east coast late 80s show. First set was good. Really liked Birdsong. Second set started with a nice Box, but for me the rest of pre-drums sounds disjointed and awkward. Eyes might be the shortest I'd seen. They rally for a sweet GDTRFB/Miracle/Morning Dew, and of course Ripple blew our minds. I'd never witnessed such spontaneous celebration and joy afterwards....dancing, drumming, clapping, laughing, twirling....I remember security had to form a shield to herd us out of the cap center hallways. It was certainly special, but listening now reminds me the show was just slightly above average in my judgment. Maybe give it 3.5 for the Ripple surprise factor.

pretty routine show (and thats never bad, frankly) but the Goin Down the Road, Miracle, Morning Dew, Sat Nite and Ripple kick ass. Five stars for that portion of the show.

I had tickets to all but this night, but the folks I went with had tickets to all four. It is the only show I was ever shut out of, but ten minutes before the show, a guy sat on the hood of my car and held up a ticket and said $30. Sold. Got in. Found my friends at intermission. And after walking that lot from 10am until almost showtime without luck, I was rewarded with a ticket and a Ripple. Pretty nice Birdsong. Smokin' second set. Out of space on was just a joyride. Phil hit some zingers during Dew that exploded in my chest. The boys in the band were having a blast. The Ripple was for a Make a Wish patient, and from what I heard, they would have done a third encore had the building not already surpassed its curfew. (The cops in Landover were brutal on Deadheads in the lot)

I saw all 4 shows at this Cap Centre this run..all pretty average shows..I was walking out towards the end of Sat Nite and almost missed the Ripple.The sound quality is a little off and distant..Give it a whirl for the RIPPLE!

during DEW...leave jerry s voice alone...it does not need any added effects.....otherwise another good ol grateful dead show (~);}

East Coast fall tour in the late '80s always rocked. This show did not disappoint. Not sure how anyone could say this was an "off night" for Jerry. There weren't a lot of Jerry tunes, but he shredded the Stranger>Franklin's, the Peggy-O was great, and he played a very nice Eyes. The Morning Dew, however, was unbelieveable. Listen to Jerry belt the verse, "Thought I heard a baby cry today," and tell me that was an off night. The Fat Man was feeling it. Seriously, I can only remember hearing one or two better Dews from '87 - '89. They finished up the show with a Saturday Night>Ripple double encore, which brought down the house. Everyone, including the band, had a freakin' great time. People were still hootin' and hollerin' in the halls and in the lot after the show. Far from an off night, this was one of the most memorable shows of my life.

Plenty to like......

Ripple was a make-a-wish request for a Deadhead. It was not because Jerry felt bad about a bad show. Had that been the case I would have seen Ripple many times after many shitty shows!!! I did see it twice at Radio City in 1980 so I consider myself lucky!

Purple jells. Mescaline I'd eaten before the show had me so high that I sat in the cab of my friends truck and hardly moved a muscle for the entire show. Had to give up my ticket and was totally bummed when I heard about ripple when he came out. I got to see my own show though as some hippie couple, not realizing I was in the truck proceeded to get it on right in front of me. Good times. Great Birdsong. Really out there.

At first i thought that maybe this was another of the 80's zombie walk, power chord, throw the dog a bone shows. Jerry really doesn't have too much sparkle through out. He drops a couple of heavy handed solos that given the artist are top notch. He isn't really an active participant or daring leader. By the Rooster you realize though that this is a group thing... you know-> we can get through this shit together and laugh about it in the end. Once I kinda caught the levity in the boys voices I lightened up a bit and coincidently my listening experience brightened up too! As somebody previously mentioned this is a good showcase of both Bob and Brents playing. They have a good ol time of it, and play some magically delicous (though not technically) proficient tunes. Jerry does show well on Peggy-o, giving those heart strings a satisfying strum. Much the same tender and vunerable tone of ripple. This is a great Me and My uncle, Franks was short of mustard, and the miracle says it all.

5 skulls for making it happen without the captain.
4 roses at the Captains door

Quite an enjoyable experience. I remember it oh so well. And this recording is top notch. Thank you Mr. Miller! The performance was good too. I remember the security guard next to us in the aisle. He was very unfamiliar with the Dead (liking hip hop music)and the crowd made him nervous. But, his jaw dropped during Bobby's slide solo on Rooster. He gave us a satifactory nod and a grin, so we partook in the wonders of nature with him. By the time GDTRFB was cookin', he said "f it" and danced excitedly in the aisle and took off for da hills. Cracked us up! Another convert. Once in a while you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right! Oh yeah, Ripple was cool too. Noisy arse Dead Heads ;-)

I know the story dick, so chill the fuck out, I was just trying to enjoy my birthday show. why dont you go bro rape someone.

Sorry bro, they did not play it for you. Look below if you ever navigate to this page again. Sorry everyone i know this is not a review but I'm just having a reactionary moment to "its all about me" below. Great show...good setlist, historic encore. God bless the bro with the wish!

I always have very fond memories of this show as one of the best of this tour. Remember (jboy), Foolish Heart and Victim were still new and finding themselves as songs. This was the first time that I remember Foolish Heart being jammed out of, and this represented a turning point for Victim as a song. I also think the Dew was quite good and the OMSN actually had energy, rather than *wanting* to have energy as so many encore OMSN's tend to be. This Ripple was an amazing experience for anyone who was there. It was for a guy (late teens, early 20s? not a "boy" as some have suggested) who had the disease that affected the guy in the movie "Mask." At the end of the movie after the lead character dies, they play Ripple. The guy, who went through the make-a-wish foundation to request they play Ripple, actually toured quite a bit at this time period and i remember seeing him at many shows. I even thanked him once for giving us all this "ripple." Don't know what ever came of him, but given that disease, I'm guessing he's no longer with us. Think of him and give some thanks that we get to listen to this now.

A real soundboard of this show after almost 20 years!!! OK, the sound's not perfect, but it's a damn sight better than the one version of this show that's always circulated. Grab it before they make you pay for it! "Sux and is of very poor quality?" Not sure what show you're listening to, but it's not this one. Oh, and yes, people were seen freaking out in the parking lot afterwards when they realized they'd missed Ripple (mostly vendors who heard OMSN, thought it would be the only encore, and went out to start setting up their vending space). No biggie, you just missed out on one of the top moments in Dead history, nothing special!

I got lucky this night, I never normaly ever (I mean ever) went to the floor but a friend from Philly wanted to go there and I said what the hell. We had been traveling for quite a bit by this point and said earlier that night screw setting up and selling our wares after this show, we will take a break. The Cap Center security and the cops were as usual (pricks) and we didnt want to deal with them after was another factor. So what happens.....Ripple out of no where as we moving our way off the floor and trying to get away from the herd but I could hear the notes but thought I was crazy. They already played one encore. My friend startsmoving further down the aisle when I garb and say dude it's Ripple. He's looking at me like u'm nuts but I keep saying it. Finally BOOM there it is!!! Ripple. There I am dead center about 20 rows back for a song I thought I would never hear live. Lucky me!

BTW I dont know who said it but Ripple was not played to say sorry but was played for a kid in the "Make A Wish Foundation" who wished they would play it. See there's always a story with the Dead.

I was apparently not at the same show as the rest of these reveiwers. The show was medium at best. Jerry flubbed practically every lyric of every song. Eyes of the world is missing an entire verse. I believe that the only reason they did Ripple (the only highlight of the show) was because it was Jerry way of saying he was sorry for the performance. But hey, there are always good and bad shows.

This is the first Ripple since they played an accoustic version at the Melk Weg in Amsterdam.

let the good times roll

1st Set: A soulful, warm but mellow "LTGTR" opens up proceedings from a lovely, now decimated venue, in southern suburban Maryland. Hmmm...it's hot, sexy and funky if slightly too slowly paced. Oh my, Bobby and Jerry team up for a series of notes around 6:13 that's an amazing coming together. Quiet segue into "Franklin" Jerry can barely manage to sing it but he's hitting some delicious notes. Twiddle away Brent at 3:45. Unfortunately, it kinda peters out after seven and a half minutes. Next up is that nasty ol' "Rooster." Bobby's slide is certainly pronounced, but he's no Duane Allman. Awww...it's been awhile since "Peggy-o," and despite Jerry's vocal issues, it's lovely. Dylan time? Nope, Jerry's runnin "Uncle" scales. Brent's cryin out 'Dixie.' Well, "Uncle" sways nicely...but once they transition to "Mexicali" well, let's just say it's less than successful..so much so they collectively go, well Jerry does, transition it, almost a minute into the song, into "River." Brent's solo isa nice, but otherwise this is standard save for some goofy sound effects in the last 10 seconds. "Bird" is an interesting follow-up...lots of clanging guitars - Bobby's too high in the mix. Not delicate, just sort-of a mishmash of crosssecting ideas, etc.

2nd Set: Maybe they can gain some balance during Phil's hilite reel, "Box." Waaay too many effects mar "Victim." "Foolish" is ehhh..."Man-Smart" is enthusiastically received, but the band is struggling to keep it afloat. It picks up steam, but please stop emphasizing those 'weird' sound effects. Brent's funny on the outro, 'feels good..so good...call you honey...well, let's see who (beocmes a mumble) The "Eyes" transition was definitely a surprise for the crowd. Where's any intro? Brent and Bobby appear to be on the same page, countering each other in clever ways. Jerry's note at 5:28 epitomizes the evening..he'll hit a special place and take it nowhere while getting awfully quiet in the process. We settle into the familiar "Drums" groove. For some ecelctic reason, "Space" gels magnificently...I completely dug the second through fourth minute. However, I never thought "GDTRFB" would form after that...it seemed prime for a 'Miracle' or 'Too' during those early moments... blah blah. It's a good time if not exactly rollicking. "Miracle" is disposable. Wow, these guys are fearless. even on an off-night they'll attempt a "Dew." Despite a few mars halfway through, the build is purposeful and mildly powerful.

The "Saturday" that follows is a good time, nicely constructed, but not a barnstormer. Holy Shit?! No way - I'm floored by that campfire riff. Jerry's voice is crap, but that isn't stopping the goosebumps. What an absolute treat, and was this the final electric "Ripple?"

2 3/4 stars...damn I wish this was a better gig

this was the only night billy and mickey played beach,bongo,bingo upon my head i swear during drums i was on a tropical island with breezes of pachouli and honeysuckle blowing on the beach!!must have been what was in that dixie cup someone passed me in the first set. ahhhh gone are the days!!! this show rocked. 5 for the memories

this one sux and is of very poor quality

glad to have a better version.couldnt really respect the show at the time was only 17,,,but i did know something was happening when RIPPLE was busted out.Great show a strong 4 IMHO

surely, some people left during the standard One More Saturday Night, only to hear later that they played Ripple...ha ha ha, their loss, first one in 8 years